Proteomic and Physiological Markers of Exercise-induced Physiological Stress and Fatigue in Grand Tour Cycling

Completed

• Conditions: Exercise Fatigue
• Interventions: Other: Tour de France

• Registration Number: NCT06165588
• Lead Sponsor: KU Leuven

Brief Summary

This project aims to identify the effect of a 3-week grand tour (e.g. Tour de France) on physiological markers and the blood proteome in world-class cyclists.

Detailed Description

Blood samples will be collected in world-tour cyclists in the fasted state (i) before, (ii) on the first resting day, (ii) on the second resting day, and (iv) on the final day of the Tour de France. Samples collected before and on the final day will be analyzed by proteomics, while sample from all timepoints will be assessed for specific cytokines to identify physiological markers of fatigue. In addition, questionnaires will be used to evaluate subjective feelings of fatigue and appetite.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-07-06
• Primary Completion: 2019-07-28
• Study Completion: 2023-08-31
• Study First Submitted: 2023-08-31
• Status Verified: 2023-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-12-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-12-08
• Study First Posted: 2023-12-11
• Last Update Posted: 2023-12-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 7

Inclusion Criteria

• Cyclist participating in the Tour de France

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Exclusion Criteria

• Younger than 18years old

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Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Cyclists	Tour de France	Elite cyclists participating in the Tour de France

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Serum proteome abundance of cyclists during Tour de France	Start of the Tour de France (day 0) - last day of the Tour de France (day 23)	Change in serum proteome between start and end of Tour de France
Serum GDF15 (Growth and differentiation factor 15) concentration	Start of the Tour de France (day 0) - restday 1 (day 11) - restday 2 (day 17) - last day of the Tour de France (day 23)	Serum GDF15 throughout the grand tour
Blood haemoglobin concentration	Start of the Tour de France (day 0) - restday 1 (day 11) - restday 2 (day 17) - last day of the Tour de France (day 23)	Haematological profile of cyclists

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
White blood cell concentration	Start of the Tour de France (day 0) - restday 1 (day 11) - restday 2 (day 17) - last day of the Tour de France (day 23)	White blood cells
Serum Leptin concentration	Start of the Tour de France (day 0) - restday 1 (day 11) - restday 2 (day 17) - last day of the Tour de France (day 23)	Serum leptin
Serum free BDNF (brain-derived neutrophic factor) concentration	Start of the Tour de France (day 0) - restday 1 (day 11) - restday 2 (day 17) - last day of the Tour de France (day 23)	Blood BDNF
Red blood cell concentration	Start of the Tour de France (day 0) - restday 1 (day 11) - restday 2 (day 17) - last day of the Tour de France (day 23)	Red blood cells
Serum ghrelin concentration	Start of the Tour de France (day 0) - restday 1 (day 11) - restday 2 (day 17) - last day of the Tour de France (day 23)	Blood ghrelin
Serum FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) concentration	Start of the Tour de France (day 0) - restday 1 (day 11) - restday 2 (day 17) - last day of the Tour de France (day 23)	Blood FGF21

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

KU Leuven; 🇧🇪 Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium